The 10 Best Small Towns In California For 2026


The best small towns in California are Del Mar and West Menlo Park for 2026 based on Saturday Night Science.

By: Chris Kolmar | About HomeSnacks
Last Updated: April 18, 2026

You’ve seen these lists before. Best places to live in California. Best sururbs in California. Best counties in California.

Etc., etc., etc.

But they all focus on major cities and towns in the Golden State, and no one pays attention to the little guy.

Well, that’s all about to change as we put together a list of the superb small towns in California based on numbers–not opinions or hearsay.

We’ll dive right into our methodology in the next section, but first, we thought you might want to know which places in California ranked the best based on Saturday Night Science.

Table Of Contents: Top Ten | Methodology | Summary | Table

The 15 Best Small Towns To Live In California For 2026

  1. Del Mar
  2. West Menlo Park
  3. Carmel-by-the-Sea
  4. Castle Hill
  5. Mission Canyon
  6. Ross
  7. Broadmoor
  8. Emerald Lake Hills
  9. Ladera
  10. Belvedere
  11. Del Rio
  12. Monte Sereno
  13. Cambrian Park
  14. Portola Valley
  15. Los Ranchos

Best Small Towns To Live In California Map

What’s the best small town in California? Del Mar is the best small town in California based on the most recent Census data. If you live in one of these small towns like Del Mar, chances are, you’re not surprised. After all, you know how great you have it.

But for the rest of you–keep reading, and we’ll get to just why these small towns made our list.

For more reading on the Golden State check out:

The 15 Best Small Towns In California For 2026

1. Del Mar

Del Mar, CA

Source: Wikipedia User No machine-readable author provided. Intersofia assumed (based on copyright claims). | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,903
Median Income: $199,152 (28th Best)
Median Home Value: $3,626,889 (6th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 1.8%

2. West Menlo Park

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 3,634
Median Income: $250,001 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,108,567 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.3%

3. Carmel-By-The-Sea

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 3,162
Median Income: $129,250 (71st Best)
Median Home Value: $2,364,653 (12th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

4. Castle Hill

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,026
Median Income: $250,001 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,108,567 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

5. Mission Canyon

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 2,357
Median Income: $208,466 (26th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,108,567 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

6. Ross

Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,606
Median Income: $250,001 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $3,904,002 (5th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.7%

7. Broadmoor

Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,586
Median Income: $167,396 (36th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,322,703 (48th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.8%

8. Emerald Lake Hills

Overall SnackAbility

7.5
/10

Population: 4,235
Median Income: $250,001 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,913,160 (9th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.6%

9. Ladera

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,297
Median Income: $235,750 (20th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,108,567 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 10.7%

10. Belvedere

Belvedere, CA

Source: Wikipedia User Brocken Inaglory | CC BY-SA 3.0
Overall SnackAbility

6
/10

Population: 2,345
Median Income: $250,001 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $4,692,540 (2nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%

11. Del Rio

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,508
Median Income: $250,001 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,265,139 (52nd Best)
Unemployment Rate: 2.2%

12. Monte Sereno

Monte Sereno, CA

Source: Wikipedia User Jack_Tramiel.jpg: Alex Handy from Oakland, Nmibia Cropped and brightened by Ubcule | CC BY-SA 2.0
Overall SnackAbility

10
/10

Population: 3,461
Median Income: $250,001 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,108,567 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 6.8%

13. Cambrian Park

Overall SnackAbility

8
/10

Population: 3,494
Median Income: $192,731 (29th Best)
Median Home Value: $2,108,567 (20th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.0%

14. Portola Valley

Portola Valley, CA

Source: Wikipedia User | GFDL
Overall SnackAbility

7
/10

Population: 4,305
Median Income: $250,001 (8th Best)
Median Home Value: $4,275,092 (4th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 3.1%

15. Los Ranchos

Overall SnackAbility

5
/10

Population: 1,467
Median Income: $121,800 (87th Best)
Median Home Value: $1,312,476 (49th Best)
Unemployment Rate: 0.0%

Best States In America

Methodology: How We Determined The Coolest Towns In California

We threw a lot of criteria at this report to get the best, most complete results of the best small towns in California possible.

Using the most recent data from the Census’s 2020-2024 American Community Survey, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Saturday Night Science, this is the criteria we used:

  • Population Density (Higher is better)
  • Lowest Unemployment Rates
  • Housing costs (Higher is better. More demand.)
  • Adjusted Median Income (Higher is better)
  • Highly Educated Adults (Higher is better)
  • Insurance Rates (Higher is better)
  • Commute Times (Lower is better)

We looked at places with populations lower than 5,000 people and greater than 1,000, of which there were many – 359 to be exact.

We then ranked each place in each category with scores from 1 to 359, averaged them out, and the lowest scores went to our Best Small Towns in California. Top of that list — Del Mar.

This is our eleventh time ranking the best small places to live in California.

Summary: Science Can Tackle Any Issue, Even Small Ones

We said it once, and we’ll say it again — this list: it’s just science. We did the research, crunched the numbers, and it turns out these 15 small towns in California are the best in which to live.

And who can argue with that?

The best small towns in California are Del Mar, West Menlo Park, Carmel-by-the-Sea, Castle Hill, Mission Canyon, Ross, Broadmoor, Emerald Lake Hills, Ladera, and Belvedere.

If you’re curious, here are the worst small towns in California:

  1. Oasis
  2. Homestead Valley
  3. Weedpatch

For more California reading, check out:

Best Small Towns In California

Rank City Population Median Income Median Home Value Unemployment Rate
1 Del Mar, CA 3,903 $199,152 1.8%
2 West Menlo Park, CA 3,634 $250,001 6.3%
3 Carmel-By-The-Sea, CA 3,162 $129,250 3.1%
4 Castle Hill, CA 1,026 $250,001 0.0%
5 Mission Canyon, CA 2,357 $208,466 3.1%
6 Ross, CA 2,606 $250,001 0.7%
7 Broadmoor, CA 4,586 $167,396 2.8%
8 Emerald Lake Hills, CA 4,235 $250,001 2.6%
9 Ladera, CA 1,297 $235,750 10.7%
10 Belvedere, CA 2,345 $250,001 2.2%
11 Del Rio, CA 1,508 $250,001 2.2%
12 Monte Sereno, CA 3,461 $250,001 6.8%
13 Cambrian Park, CA 3,494 $192,731 3.0%
14 Portola Valley, CA 4,305 $250,001 3.1%
15 Los Ranchos, CA 1,467 $121,800 0.0%
16 Fairbanks Ranch, CA 2,703 $250,001 0.0%
17 Hidden Hills, CA 2,150 $250,001 2.5%
18 Woodlands, CA 2,061 $136,618 0.0%
19 Loyola, CA 3,430 $250,001 6.0%
20 Acalanes Ridge, CA 1,006 $181,094 7.7%
21 Los Olivos, CA 1,038 $143,229 3.8%
22 Casa Conejo, CA 2,671 $147,616 10.4%
23 Norris Canyon, CA 1,014 $250,001 0.7%
24 Reliez Valley, CA 3,173 $249,864 6.9%
25 Felton, CA 4,093 $123,056 3.0%
26 Corralitos, CA 1,884 $171,113 1.2%
27 Monument Hills, CA 1,551 $218,333 1.7%
28 Del Monte Forest, CA 3,613 $142,763 5.2%
29 Lexington Hills, CA 2,692 $248,750 3.1%
30 Lake Sherwood, CA 1,633 $234,020 5.3%
31 Rose Hills, CA 2,314 $122,771 3.8%
32 El Verano, CA 3,443 $123,738 6.3%
33 Rolling Hills, CA 1,509 $250,001 5.6%
34 Indian Wells, CA 4,871 $162,990 6.1%
35 Sunnyside-Tahoe City, CA 1,599 $118,493 0.0%
36 Seacliff, CA 3,299 $130,385 4.9%
37 Montara, CA 2,917 $233,826 9.5%
38 La Selva Beach, CA 2,302 $160,833 2.5%
39 Lagunitas-Forest Knolls, CA 1,626 $130,682 2.4%
40 Del Rey Oaks, CA 1,570 $134,500 12.4%
41 Aromas, CA 3,245 $148,438 2.1%
42 Penryn, CA 1,114 $127,361 5.5%
43 Santa Rosa Valley, CA 2,780 $213,973 4.8%
44 Toro Canyon, CA 1,477 $140,743 5.9%
45 West Bishop, CA 2,551 $114,653 2.8%
46 Santa Susana, CA 1,235 $99,783 3.3%
47 Avalon, CA 3,338 $105,139 0.0%
48 Woodacre, CA 1,627 $231,953 2.8%
49 Moss Beach, CA 2,683 $99,680 0.2%
50 Bell Canyon, CA 2,177 $250,001 8.7%
51 Tahoe Vista, CA 1,048 $113,314 3.5%
52 Sleepy Hollow, CA 3,063 $250,001 12.3%
53 La Honda, CA 1,269 $250,001 0.0%
54 San Pasqual, CA 1,918 $123,317 1.0%
55 Channel Islands Beach, CA 2,726 $107,380 2.7%
56 North El Monte, CA 4,086 $99,447 3.7%
57 Mather, CA 4,520 $146,023 3.7%
58 Santa Venetia, CA 3,725 $126,833 7.5%
59 Glen Ellen, CA 1,078 $202,097 4.1%
60 Alto, CA 1,024 $129,191 3.9%
61 Bishop, CA 3,778 $83,686 0.3%
62 Hartley, CA 2,431 $124,254 0.6%
63 East Richmond Heights, CA 3,109 $134,632 8.9%
64 Brisbane, CA 4,692 $156,169 8.7%
65 Dollar Point, CA 1,477 $76,774 8.8%
66 Rancho Santa Fe, CA 2,260 $175,792 9.8%
67 Diablo, CA 1,232 $248,150 5.0%
68 Sea Ranch, CA 1,287 $139,375 3.5%
69 Newcastle, CA 1,585 $108,750 2.8%
70 Morada, CA 3,383 $96,896 3.5%
71 Cutten, CA 3,550 $97,225 1.1%
72 Day Valley, CA 3,579 $155,000 5.6%
73 Shingle Springs, CA 3,801 $135,530 4.1%
74 Aptos Hills-Larkin Valley, CA 2,127 $158,788 1.0%
75 Mayflower Village, CA 4,950 $105,242 4.6%
76 Meadow Vista, CA 3,162 $100,859 2.4%
77 Lake San Marcos, CA 4,693 $89,851 4.1%
78 Carmel Valley Village, CA 4,785 $156,161 6.3%
79 Angwin, CA 2,931 $117,500 7.5%
80 Black Point-Green Point, CA 1,655 $168,438 6.6%
81 Angels, CA 3,716 $62,188 2.2%
82 Kenwood, CA 1,028 $99,526 0.0%
83 Forestville, CA 3,717 $115,962 6.7%
84 Bolinas, CA 1,334 $100,625 2.6%
85 Yountville, CA 3,348 $80,342 5.6%
86 Callender, CA 2,230 $136,346 6.8%
87 Mission Hills, CA 3,859 $111,974 3.8%
88 Inverness, CA 1,346 $80,176 10.0%
89 Romoland, CA 2,268 $106,861 1.3%
90 Nevada City, CA 3,172 $75,792 0.0%
91 East Oakdale, CA 2,269 $119,844 1.6%
92 East Sonora, CA 2,651 $77,574 0.7%
93 Allendale, CA 1,734 $107,679 6.8%
94 Colma, CA 1,636 $148,295 4.0%
95 Forest Meadows, CA 1,623 $89,044 1.7%
96 Tuolumne City, CA 1,148 $57,313 0.0%
97 Graton, CA 1,806 $91,429 5.7%
98 Cayucos, CA 2,427 $87,235 1.4%
99 Mountain View, CA 2,418 $94,046 3.9%
100 San Juan Bautista, CA 2,033 $115,833 4.2%
About Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar has been in the real estate business for almost ten years now. He originally worked for Movoto Real Estate as the director of marketing before founding HomeSnacks.

He believes the key to finding the right place to live comes down to looking at the data, reading about things to do, and, most importantly, checking it out yourself before you move.

If you've been looking for a place to live in the past several years, you've probably stumbled upon his writing already.

You can find out more about him on LinkedIn or his website.

 Best Small Towns, Rankings